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Man charged in relation to Portmarnock murder

A 22 year-old man has been before Dublin District Court this evening in connection with the death of 21-year-old Peter Joyce in Portmarnock, County Dublin, early today.

Jonathan Dignam, from Limekiln Lane, off the Malahide Road in Dublin was charged with assault causing serious harm to Peter Joyce, under Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

The Dublin District Court was told that Mr Dignam was arrested at 2.58pm this afternoon. He said "no" when asked if he wanted to say anything in response to the charge.

Gardaí objected to bail because of the serious nature of the charge and because of the accused's plans to travel to Australia. Detective Garda Gerry McNally told the court that the injured party in the case had passed away, and there may be further charges.

Judge Patrick Brady granted bail on Mr Dignam's own bond of 750 euro and an independent surety of €1,500. He ordered that Mr Dignam surrender his passport and sign on daily at Coolock Garda Station. He is to appear again at Swords District Court next Friday.

Twenty one year-old Peter Joyce died after being beaten outside Naomh Mearnóg GAA club early this morning. The man had been attending a 21st birthday in the club.

It is understood Mr Joyce sustained severe head injuries during a row which broke out in the car park of club. He was admitted to Beaumont hospital but later died. The Garda Technical Bureau is examining the scene of the attack and a postmortem will be carried out on the dead man's body later today.